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Sunday, December 22, 2024

Free oral cancer screenings offered by UI Health during awareness month

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Tiesa Hughes-Dillard DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Officer | University Of Illinois Hospital - Chicago

Tiesa Hughes-Dillard DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Officer | University Of Illinois Hospital - Chicago

Free oral cancer screenings are being offered throughout April in recognition of Head & Neck Cancers Awareness Month. These screenings are available at UI Health, Mile Square Health Center sites, and the UIC College of Dentistry without the need for appointments. Each screening session is expected to last between 10 to 15 minutes.

The schedule for these screenings includes several dates and locations: April 17 at the Specialty Care Building on the sixth floor (1009 S. Wood St.) from 1 to 4 pm; April 18 at the UIC College of Dentistry (801 S. Paulina St.) from 9 am to 12:30 pm; April 21 again at the Specialty Care Building from 1 to 4 pm; April 26 at Mile Square Health Center–Auburn Gresham (839 W. 79th St.) from 10 am to 2 pm; and finally, April 27 at Mile Square Health Center–Back of the Yards (4630 S. Bishop St.) from 10 am to 2 pm.

For those interested in screenings at Mile Square Health Center, further information can be obtained by contacting their Dental Department via phone at 312.996.2000 or email mshcdental@uic.edu.

Oral cancer screenings provide an opportunity for individuals to have direct interaction with trained and licensed oral health experts. In Chicago, oral cancer presents a racial-disparity issue, with higher incidence rates reported in South and West Side communities compared to other areas. Evidence suggests that poor oral health may increase the risk of developing oral cancer, with Black males identified as having the highest mortality risk among male groups.

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